Liberal Arts Services

Spring 2007

SOC 352M • Community Leadership - W

Unique

Days

Time

Location

Instructor

46325

MW

3:00 PM-4:30 PM

PAR 310

MULLER

Course Description

Well-organized communities can accomplish more than is possible of the individual members alone. They can help society and contribute to our democracy, as do many voluntary organizations, or they can cause problems (e.g., neighborhood gangs). Organizing people around a common goal, especially one that does not have an immediate or concrete pay-off, depends on effective leadership. What compels people to invest in a community even when it may cost them more than they benefit from it? Leadership.
What makes a community leader effective? This small, seminar-style course will study essential elements of community leadership. Our society has many types of communities for example, groups that aid underserved populations, arts and cultural groups, prison gangs, and effective schools, to name a few. After learning the principles of leadership, the class will study different types of communities in the Austin area. We will invite community leaders to the class to discuss leadership. Each student will conduct a case study of a community group and its leader. Together, we will accumulate data to understand the essential elements of community leadership and produce a project that conveys what we have learned. In addition to the objective of developing a better understanding of community leadership, this course will help you learn how to conduct and write-up case study research.

Contains a substantial writing component and fulfills part of the basic education requirement in writing.